News Alert: Diageo Names Stephen Rust President, US Spirits

Diageo has announced some key leadership changes in its North America unit. Current president, US Spirits, Gregorio Gutierrez, who has held that role since 2022, is leaving the company. He will be replaced by company veteran Stephen Rust, previously president, Reserve & New Business Commercialization.

Rust has been with Diageo and its forerunners for 35 years. In 1989 he joined a Diageo predecessor in on-trade sales, then led sales at Diageo’s joint venture with Moët Hennessy (Schieffelin and Somerset), prior to joining Diageo North America in 2004. Since then he has held a variety of senior commercial and strategy roles, including president of Reserve and president of Diageo Chateau and Estates.

Rust has been instrumental to Diageo’s U.S. business over the years, leading the company’s past route-to-market strategy known as Next Generation Growth, overseeing the company’s relationships with Ketel One’s Nolet family, supporting the acquisition and oversight of the Casamigos brand, and serving as a governing board member of Pronghorn, which is aimed at cultivating the next generation of Black founders, executive leaders and entrepreneurs in the spirits industry.

In his new role, he’ll lead Diageo’s 40-million-case spirits business in the U.S., the company’s biggest market worldwide, accounting for roughly half of global profit.

Additionally, Diageo veteran Michael Ward is rejoining Diageo as executive vice president, North America Strategy. Ward spent 25 years with Diageo, most recently as global head of Innovation. He also served in a range of roles across the North American business in Innovation and Marketing leadership, including on Smirnoff, RTDs and Guinness. Most recently he’s been a senior advisor at Boston Consulting Group.—Daniel Marsteller

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